GNU Coreutils up to 8.23 sort.c keycompare_mb integer overflow

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in GNU Coreutils up to 8.23. Affected by this issue is the function keycompare_mb of the file sort.c. The manipulation results in integer overflow. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2015-4042. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in GNU Coreutils up to 8.23. Affected is the function keycompare_mb of the file sort.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a integer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-190. The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound, when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This can introduce other weaknesses when the calculation is used for resource management or execution control. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Integer overflow in the keycompare_mb function in sort.c in sort in GNU Coreutils through 8.23 might allow attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via long strings.

The weakness was disclosed 04/21/2023 as bea5e36cc876ed627bb5e0eca36fdfaa6465e940. The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2015-4042 since 05/19/2015. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details and a public exploit are known. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/01/2025).

The exploit is shared for download at openwall.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 266248 (NewStart CGSL MAIN 6.06 : coreutils Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0228)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 168072 (SUSE Enterprise Linux Security update for coreutils (SUSE-SU-2015:1637-1)).

Applying the patch bea5e36cc876ed627bb5e0eca36fdfaa6465e940 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (266248). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.3

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Integer overflow
CWE: CWE-190 / CWE-189
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 266248
Nessus Name: NewStart CGSL MAIN 6.06 : coreutils Multiple Vulnerabilities (NS-SA-2025-0228)

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: bea5e36cc876ed627bb5e0eca36fdfaa6465e940

Timelineinfo

05/19/2015 🔍
04/21/2023 +2894 days 🔍
04/21/2023 +0 days 🔍
10/01/2025 +894 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: bea5e36cc876ed627bb5e0eca36fdfaa6465e940
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2015-4042 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2015-4042
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-227052
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 04/21/2023 22:33
Updated: 10/01/2025 10:46
Changes: 04/21/2023 22:33 (61), 11/24/2024 12:08 (17), 10/01/2025 10:46 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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